West Ham United manager Julen Lopetegui praised his team’s grit and determination after their victory over Bournemouth in the Carabao Cup. Despite a less-than-ideal performance, the Hammers secured a win thanks to their hard work and resilience.
“We came up against a very good team, who gave us some difficulties,” Lopetegui said. “We suffered but it’s the only way that I know to go forward, suffering and being able to overcome a very good team.”
The manager emphasised the importance of hard work and determination, stating, “It was not luck, as you have to work very hard to have this luck. Sometimes you are a little lucky, but in the end the team is ready to suffer, to run, to fight and take advantage of our strengths.”
Lopetegui also acknowledged the challenges faced by the team, including an injury to Aaron Cresswell during the warm-up. “Unfortunately we had a problem in the warm-up with Cress with his hamstring,” he said. “We had to make a change, but in the end we overcame all of these difficulties as a team.”
Looking ahead, Lopetegui emphasised the need for recovery and preparation for the upcoming match against Manchester City. “The first task is to recover as soon as possible, because Manchester City did not play this midweek,” he said. “They are going to be ready and we have to recover to be ready to face a very difficult match.”
Overall, West Ham United’s victory over Bournemouth was a positive result, despite the less-than-ideal performance. The team’s grit and determination were key factors in their success. Lopetegui will be looking to build on this momentum as they prepare for the challenging match against Manchester City.